Four koalas to be loaned to S'pore Zoo for SG50

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Apr 10, 2015 06:00 am

The Singapore Zoo is set to receive four koalas from Australia as part of events that mark the 50th anniversary of Australia-Singapore diplomatic ties and the 50th anniversary of Singapore's independence.

The koalas, which will be flown here next week, will be loaned to the zoo for six months, where they will reside in a purpose-built koala exhibit. The gift will be made permanent when the zoo can support a koala colony.

"The loan symbolises the warm ties between Singapore and Australia, and I look forward to an official koala handover to Singapore Zoo when I visit in May," said Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in a statement yesterday.

Qantas Airways will transport the koalas to and from Singapore, and supply fresh eucalyptus twice weekly to the zoo for the duration.